NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Inga Andersson is the envy of every girl in Asgard. On the surface she has it all -- great friends, a job as Odin’s personal fight choreographer, and a happy ever after with her realm’s hottest assassin. But when evil invades Asgard, her perfect world comes crashing down. Someone is planning to kill off the gods, and Inga’s best friend Ull is first on their list. With the Norse apocalypse a nanosecond away, Inga has to decide how she’ll spend her final moments of freedom. Because from the moment this battle begins, Inga’s happily ever after will be nothing more than a memory.

Some things are worth fighting for.

Thoughts from readers:

"The characters will leave an imprint on your heart and mind for a long time to come." -Lisa (Bound by Books)"Bende takes classic bits of Norse mythology and throws in original elements to create her own tasty Nordic blend... I'll definitely be checking out the sequel!" -Bookalicious Reviews"One of my favorite books of the year." -White Zin Bookends"Action packed with a heart pounding romance!" -Curse of the Bibliophile"This book was nearly impossible to put down and I'm dying for the sequel!" -Brittany and Bianca Blab Books (now BiblioBelles)

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms. Her orderly life just got very messy.

“Come Kristia, I am taking you home.” Ull strode across the dance floor, still shaking, as I hastily told my roommates I would meet them at our flat. Outside, it was so cold the trout must have been tap dancing, and Ull’s long legs took strides so big, I had to run to keep up. He stopped under a streetlight and his breath came out in small puffs. His body was tense, but his eyes were so soft, the grey-blue of the sky after a storm. I both adored and hated him all at once.

“Are you all right, Kristia?” He seemed genuinely concerned.

“I’m fine, thanks. How did you …” My sentence trailed off.

He drew another ragged breath. “Right place, right time, I guess,” he said halfheartedly. He obviously wasn’t telling the whole truth. I scanned his face and he shrugged.

“That’s not what I mean. Are you going to tell me about that whole disappearing act in the club?” Or explain how he and his stepdad had the same names as the gods I’d taken a quiz on this week?

“Not tonight.”

“Then goodnight, Ull.”

“Wait.” He seemed at a loss. “I suppose we should talk.”

“I don’t know if I want to talk to you. You didn’t call me, remember?” I sounded a lot more bitter than I meant to.

“Right. That. You deserve an explanation.” Ull had the grace to look ashamed, but it only fueled my anger.

“For what? Making out with me in the middle of a castle -- no, two castles -- and just leaving me hanging? For lying to me about having ‘the most enjoyable evening you have ever had’ and then not bothering to call when you said you would?” My exaggeration of his soft accent was terrible.

But I was building steam. “It’s been two weeks and I’ve heard nothing from you. Nothing! I actually believed you when you said Nice Ull was the real you. Was that some kind of a joke? Because clearly, you’re the same jerk who spent a week giving me nasty looks for absolutely no reason.”

“I would hardly say I am a jerk, Kristia.”

“Really? Then what would you call making out with someone all night and then dropping off the face of the earth? You made me feel this big.” I pinched my fingers together and held them just under his nose. “And where do you get off acting like that? What kind of scumbag just drops the cow once he gets a taste of the milk? Huh?”

“Would you be the cow in that scenario?”

“Don’t mess with me right now, buddy,” I threatened. “I called you. Because that’s what nice people do when the person they like goes missing. They pick up the phone and call. I thought something awful had happened to you. I was so stupid! Was this whole thing just some ploy to see how far you could get with me?” The corner of Ull’s mouth turned up in a smirk. It was infuriating. “Oh, so this is funny to you?” I winced at the shrillness in my voice. It wasn’t dignified, but he had it coming.

“Nobody here has ever spoken to me like this.” Now the smirk was a full-fledged smile.

“Well somebody needs to. You think because you’re so superior, you can just parade around and do whatever you want? Do the rest of us even matter to you?” I was shaking, my hands balled into tight fists.

“Are you finished?”

“Hardly,” I muttered, glaring into Ull’s endless blue, traitor eyes.

“I did just save you,” Ull reminded me.

“I had things under control.” My voice was testy.

“Oh, did you?”

“I was getting there.”

“Right. Well, while you were getting there, I took care of the problem. The least you can do is let me explain.” I thought about what I’d have been doing right now if Ull hadn’t come along in the nightclub. Guilt stepped lightly on Anger’s toes.

“You know what Ull?” I sighed, too exhausted to fight anymore. “I’ve had a long night. I just want to go home.”

“Do you want to hear my explanation?”

“Do you think it’ll make any difference?”

“Maybe.”

I shook my head. “Maybe’s not good enough.” I turned and walked toward campus.

“Where do you think you are going?”

“I told you. Home.” Heavy footsteps followed me.

“This conversation is not over.” Ull sounded strained.

“Yes, it is. I get it. You weren’t that into me. You’re lousy at dumping girls. Case closed.”

“Kristia.” Ull grabbed my hand, forcing me to stop. “Please. It is not what you think.”

I pulled my hand back and folded my arms. “It doesn’t matter, Ull. I just want to go home.” As I started my brisk walk, Ull matched my pace.

“Fine. You may go home.”

“Gee, thanks.” Could he be any more arrogant?

“But this conversation is not over,” He marched confidently beside me.

“Where exactly do you think you’re going?”

“With you.”

“You are not coming home with me.” I didn’t care how good he looked in that coat; I was a woman of substance.

“I am making sure you get home safely, whether you like it or not. We can talk tomorrow.” The smugness in his voice got under my skin.

“I seriously doubt that,” I muttered, picking up my pace in an effort to get away from him. At that moment, Ull Myhr was the last person I wanted to be around.

Book Trailer:

About the Author:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga (TUR, ELSKER and ENDRE). She is an audio co-host of #NALitChat, and helps compile indie new releases for the USA Today HEA blog. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food.

Find ST on Twitter, her blog, or send her an e-mail. While you’re at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr -- when he’s not saving the cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends. Especially the human kind.

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